Chapter 76
Qin Xiang didn't expect Meng Huaiqing to come to Ge Da Ye again in the middle of the night, but as soon as her eyes met, she looked away and then back.
"Xiangxiang, go to sleep." Qin Juan had already made the bed. Thanks to Qin Xiang's bed, which was 1.5 meters long, three people wouldn't be able to lie on it, but it wasn't spacious enough for three people. Qin
Xiang closed the curtains, lay down on the bed, patted the place next to her, "Niannian, come to the middle."
Niannian came over happily and lay down, hugging Qin Xiang and softly calling, "Auntie."
Qin Xiang couldn't help laughing.
The summer night was not cool at all. The fan in the living room was on, but the bedroom still felt hot. Qin Xiang took a palm-leaf fan to fan Nian Nian. The little girl looked at Qin Xiang with her big eyes and said, "Aunt, you smell good."
"Really? Let me smell if Nian Nian smells good." Qin Xiang leaned against Nian Nian, and Nian Nian started to laugh.
The crisp laughter echoed, and Meng Huaiqing came out of his uncle's room and looked up at the open window.
Once upon a time, that was where grandma lived.
Meng Huaiqing got in the car and said to Cen Xuan beside him, "Get ready and go back to Gangcheng."
Cen Xuan nodded and said, "Okay, boss. What about Grandpa Ge?"
"Uncle still refuses to agree." Meng Huaiqing rubbed his brows with a headache. This time, there was news from Gangcheng that grandma was hospitalized because of the anger of the relatives. He had to suspend his work here and go to Gangcheng to take care of her. He thought that since grandma was in the hospital, uncle would give in, but grandpa directly said that life and death are determined by fate and directly refused.
Meng Huaiqing couldn't do anything against his will. If he didn't mean it sincerely, he couldn't let grandma be happy even if he kidnapped the person.
When the car started again, Qin Xiang heard the movement. Qin Juan then remembered the car she saw yesterday and asked, "The boss who helped for many days... is he your friend?"
Friend?
Qin Xiang shook her head, "Sister, he is a big boss in Gangcheng, how can I make friends with him. He is the nephew of Mr. Ge next door, and the owner of this house. But he is well-educated and polite, so he gave me a ride when we met."
"Oh." Qin Juan was thinking about the divorce, so she only remembered that the other party drove a fancy car and was dressed very expensively, and she didn't know anything else.
Everyone was very tired these two days. Nian Nian fell asleep holding Qin Juan's clothes after lying down for a while, and Qin Xiang was also drowsy.
After a while, when Qin Xiang was about to fall asleep, Qin Juan whispered, "Xiang Xiang, why is the world so hostile to women?"
Qin Xiang woke up with a start, and her sleepiness faded. She glanced at her sister's face in the dark. Under the reflection of the street lights outside, Qin Juan's face was full of deep sadness, which made Qin Xiang feel very uncomfortable.
But when she thought about her sister's experience in her previous life and then thought about the things in this life, she suddenly felt that the two sisters were lucky.
She reached out and held Qin Juan's hand, saying, "Sister, it's not that the world is malicious towards women, it's that women often can't let go of other women. It's okay for men, they should be hung on the wall, but women often make things difficult for other women. But I think we two sisters are very lucky. We both escaped from the sea of suffering early. If we had continued to endure it, what would we be like in ten years, and what would we be like in twenty years?"
After she finished speaking, she patted her sister's hand, "Sister, go to sleep, we will go find a house tomorrow morning, and with your own home, you and Nian Nian will have a brand new beginning."
Qin Xiang was so sleepless that she fell asleep after she finished speaking, but Qin Juan couldn't sleep. She stared at the roof, thinking about her sister's words.
Yes, they are both unfortunate and lucky. They escaped from the sea of suffering early. She really couldn't imagine what would happen to her if she continued to insist on this marriage.
Adults can be patient, but what about Nian Nian?
Qin Juan couldn't imagine what kind of child Nian Nian would become if she grew up in such a family. She really couldn't imagine it.
Qin Juan hugged Nian Nian tightly, and Nian Nian also burrowed into her arms, adjusted the appropriate position, and murmured, "Mom, don't hit Mom..."
The little body trembled slightly, and tears flowed from the corners of Nian Nian's eyes and wet Qin Juan's clothes.
Qin Juan was so heartbroken that she couldn't breathe, and couldn't hold back her tears anymore.
But she was worried that her sister would hear it, so she covered her mouth tightly and let the tears fall.
However, she started to laugh after crying. She was unlucky to meet a scumbag like Zhao Qianjin, but at the same time, she was very lucky because she had brothers and sisters who loved her.
Qin Juan exhaled, wiped her tears, and closed her eyes. The good days that belonged to her and Nian Nian had just begun.
When Qin Xiang woke up the next day, she found that her sister's eyes were swollen.
Thinking about her sister's temper, Qin Xiang knew that her sister must have cried secretly again after she fell asleep last night. When she was a child, sometimes when something happened, she thought it was no big deal, and her sister would cry secretly by herself. Because of this temper, her sister didn't know how many times she was scolded by her grandmother, but scolding was useless. Qin Juan was just like that.
But later, Qin Juan was determined to marry Zhao Qianjin, and she insisted on getting married. Grandma scolded Qin Juan, but then she cried behind people's backs and told Qin Xiang that her sister would regret it sooner or later.
Even so, the old lady still took out all her savings and asked Qin Baotian to raise money to buy a job for Qin Juan, just because she didn't want the Zhao family to look down on her because of her job. But grandma
still miscalculated. The Zhao family was bad to the core. Even if Qin Juan had a job, it wouldn't work just because she gave birth to a concubine.
Qin Xiang just pretended not to see it, and went to cook after washing up. Mi Hongjun got up very early every day, and bought vegetables when he came from the university town.
Qin Juan asked Nian Nian to play with her third uncle, and she helped cook in the kitchen, and the two sisters also talked.
Qin Xiang said, "I have a client who is a teacher at the Experimental Junior High School. I think since we are going to find a school for Nian Nian, why don't we just find a good one. The school is not too far from here, close to the provincial government, and has a good environment and safety. Let's look for a house around here, okay?"
Qin Juan was certainly tempted to hear what Qin Xiang said, but she still hesitated, "The price must be very high. I only have 400 yuan from selling my job and the 200 yuan I got as a share. I don't have enough money to buy a house." I'm afraid it's not enough."
Qin Xiang smiled, "I have money here, I'll add it to your account first?"
But Qin Juan didn't want to take Qin Xiang's money, and hesitated for a moment and said, "I saw that there is a night market in your square at night, you said I should go there to sell food, is that okay?"
Qin Xiang looked at her sister in surprise, and nodded immediately, "Of course, I'll take you and Nian Nian to go shopping in the evening. Although there are many food items sold at the night market, there is also a large flow of people. Let's see what is suitable to sell."
Qin Juan was relieved when her sister confirmed her idea. "I originally wanted to open a snack bar, but I was afraid that I would not have enough money to buy a house and then open a shop, so I wanted to start with a stall."
Qin Xiang nodded, "Okay, I support you."
Qin Juan had her own plans and could think so far ahead, which Qin Xiang did not expect.
In her previous life, until the accident, Qin Juan's life was in the Zhao family, revolving around the Zhao family. Unexpectedly, in this life, her sister bravely took the step of divorce, and now has plans for the future, which makes Qin Xiang very excited.
Of course, she would not say that she would give money for anything. Her sister is soft-hearted and a little sensitive. If she said it directly, it is estimated that her sister herself would not be able to get over it.
Qin Xiang said, "If you need any help, tell me. Third brother is here too, so it's the same if you tell him."
Qin Juan looked at Qin Xiang and said, "Thank you, Xiang Xiang."
Qin Xiang took the millet porridge off the stove and quickly heated the oil in the pan to prepare the dishes. "We are sisters, it's too formal to say that. Brothers and sisters should help each other. Didn't I ask my second and third brothers for help when I first started after the New Year? Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to run the stall I have now if I were on my own."
Although Qin Juan hadn't visited the store in the university town yet, the two-story building she was living in was very impressive. To be honest, she was envious, but she wasn't jealous, she just admired her sister's ability.
Qin Xiang thought of the storefront in the university town again. "Oh, sister, besides the storefront at the corner that I have reserved for myself, there are several other stores beside it. I'll reserve one for you. How about starting a snack business in the future? The provincial university is across the street, and there are many schools nearby. There will definitely be no shortage of customers. What do you think?"
Qin Juan was surprised. "You still have a storefront? Your own?"
"Yes, mine." Qin Xiang served the rapeseed and poured the buns and pickled vegetables bought by Mi Hongjun into the plate. Such a simple breakfast was enough. "I'll take you there later. It's not too far away. If possible, I'll reserve a room for you. It will probably be almost dried in the past few days."
Qin Juan sighed, "Xiangxiang, you are amazing. You are so different from before."
Qin Xiang smiled and said, "Sister, after my divorce, I went out with my third brother twice and realized how big the world is. You don't know, in many places in the south, women "It's amazing that anyone can be a boss. You will definitely become as amazing as them in the future."
Qin Juan was very excited when she heard Qin Xiang say this, "Okay, let's go and have a look, but you have to rent it to me for the same amount as you rent it to others."
She paused, "But I want to set up the stall first to make some money."
Qin Xiang nodded, "Okay, there's still more than a month before school starts."
Qin Juan felt that Qin Xiang really thought highly of her. She hesitated for a moment, "But if someone asks you to rent it, you should rent it, and don't keep it for me."
"Okay, I get it." Qin Xiang agreed, but she was thinking about which one was more suitable as a storefront for snack business. If it wasn't a little far from the school, she would have wanted to sell the house to her sister at a low price.
The two sisters came out with breakfast and found Nian Nian and Mi Hongjun playing there, surprisingly harmoniously. Qin Yang was cleaning the table and called Nian Nian, "Niannian, it's time to eat."
Nian Nian glanced at her third uncle and called Mi Hongjun, "Brother, eat."
Mi Hongjun was immediately annoyed, glanced at Qin Xiang, gritted his teeth, "Call uncle."
Nian Nian tilted her head, not knowing what was wrong with this big brother, but still insisted on calling, "Brother, eat."
Mi Hongjun was about to collapse, "If you don't call uncle, I won't play with you anymore."
As a result, Nian Nian looked anxious and bit her lip, "Uncle."
Seeing this, Qin Xiang hurriedly hugged Nian Nian and glared at Mi Hongjun in reproach, "How old are you? It's normal for her to call you brother. Why are you trying to scare her?"
But Mi Hongjun was also aggrieved, "I'm only two years younger than you. She calls you aunt, so of course she has to call me uncle. If she calls me uncle, then why should I call you."
Hearing this, Qin Xiang couldn't help laughing, "You can also call me aunt."
As she said that, she put Nian Nian on the mat and took a spoon for her to eat.
Mi Hongjun was speechless and sat next to her and said, "You know how to take advantage of me."
Qin Xiang smiled and said nothing.
Qin Juan looked at Mi Hongjun and then at Qin Xiang and couldn't help laughing. The only one who was unhappy was probably Qin Yang. Qin Yang said to Mi Hongjun, "You can take care of your own meals in the future."
Before Mi Hongjun could complain, Qin Xiang laughed first, "No, it's easy for him to buy vegetables when he comes."
Qin Yang's forehead was full of black lines, "I'll buy them in the future."
I really didn't know what to say. Mi Hongjun's performance was so obvious, but his sister didn't find anything wrong and actually treated Mi Hongjun as a child.
Mi Hongjun felt that Qin Yang saw through his thoughts and didn't dare to look at him at all. He just sat there and played dumb.
After breakfast, Qin Yang and his two siblings took Nian Nian to the university town. When they saw the neat row of houses, Qin Juan was shocked. "Are all these houses yours?"
Qin Juan had not had much contact with her family before. She only knew that Qin Xiang was a self-employed person in the provincial capital, but she didn't know that Qin Xiang had the ability to actually build a storefront by himself. Not to mention the largest one at the corner, the other ones were enough to make Qin Juan jealous.
With this storefront, even if her sister does nothing but collect rent, she will have a lot of money every month, right? There are
four rooms across, and there is another one at the corner, and the area is not small. It is completely beyond Qin Juan's cognition.
Last night, she thought that the storefront Qin Xiang was talking about was the same gray small house outside. She never dared to imagine that it was such a storefront, and it was two floors above and below. The rent alone would not be cheap in a month.
Qin Juan looked at Qin Xiang in shock and said, "Xiang Xiang, tell me the truth, how much do you plan to rent this house for a month?"
Qin Xiang has not decided on this question yet. Before, she started with the decoration of her storefront, and the other ones have only been packed up in the past few days. She has not yet decided on the price.
However, compared with the rent of nearby houses, she estimated, "I estimate that it will be at least more than 20 yuan a month."
But not all of these storefronts are two-story, after all, some people don't want the space on the second floor.
So in order to make the staff dormitory bigger, the original plan was also changed, and the area of the second floor was expanded. Only the first floor of the two storefronts at the corner will be rented out, and the second floor will be merged into the staff dormitory. One of the four rooms is used as a staff dormitory, and the remaining two are two-story.
Qin Xiang said, "If it's just the front room, I plan to rent it for fifteen yuan a month, and twenty-five yuan for the two-story one. I'll ask for the details first."
Hearing her say this, Qin Juan took a deep breath. Even if it was the cheapest, it would cost 180 yuan a year.
Qin Xiang led her to the westernmost storefront. "The stairs here are against the inside, and people can sit up and down. If it's not big, you can entertain guests downstairs, and then find a waiter upstairs to use as a dormitory for employees. This location is not far from the Normal School over there. The flow of people from the two schools is enough to support this store."
In fact, there are other snack bars nearby, but the environment is like this. There are still few people who really do small business. There are so many people in several schools, and there is no worry about the flow of people being divided. On the contrary, it is also good to put snack bars together. Students have more choices, and more people will come, and the average score will not be reduced.
Qin Juan went in and looked around inside and out. The more she looked, the more she liked it. "It's good to have a store downstairs and live upstairs."
She had to use her money to buy a house and buy things for the stall, so it was a bit difficult to rent this place. She would wait and see.
After the three siblings looked around here, they prepared to look for a house near the school.
There is no such thing as school district housing now, but schools are divided according to distance. There
are no real estate agents now, so if they want to buy a house, there are only two ways: either go to the Housing Authority to ask, or find a know-it-all in a good place to ask, which is the most direct way.
Qin Xiang's rental of the small building and the purchase of the house in the university town were really just luck. Going to the Housing Authority may not necessarily lead to success.
So today Qin Xiang took Qin Juan and the others to the housing management office of this district. They didn't know if they were lucky, but the staff rummaged around for a while and said, "There really is one. It used to be a dormitory for employees of the brewery. This year, the brewery built a new family building, and the state subsidized part of it, so employees can buy it with their own money. Then, a small leader in the factory wanted to move to a bigger new house, but unfortunately he didn't have the money, so he wanted to sell it."
Qin Xiang asked, "How big is this house?"
The staff said, "The house is okay, more than 30 square meters, two rooms connected, and the location is not bad."
Qin Xiang was satisfied when she heard that it was more than 30 square meters, but Qin Juan was a little worried. The price of such a big house would definitely not be cheap. Her original idea was to buy a small room.
Qin Xiang knew Qin Juan's concerns, so he asked, "How much are they selling it for?"
"Eight hundred."
"Eight hundred?" Qin Juan frowned and said to Qin Xiang, "That's too expensive."
Qin Xiang then asked, "Do you have any other, smaller ones, just for the mother and daughter, it's okay to have a smaller one."
The staff member's attitude was quite good. After flipping through the options, he said, "No more."
Qin Juan was a little disappointed. In fact, Qin Xiang was a little tempted, but after all, the house was for Qin Juan and her daughter, and the price was really not cheap, so she suggested looking around nearby first.
After leaving the housing management office, they went directly to the dormitory of the brewery according to the address given by the staff.
The dormitory was inside the old employee compound of the brewery. There were three or four family buildings in total. It looked quite crowded and lively.
Qin Xiang went over to ask, and an old lady pointed to a room on the second floor and said, "You are talking about Director Qi's house,
right? They are indeed selling their house." Qin Xiang looked pleasing, and the old lady liked him the most. Seeing Qin Xiang's good attitude, she couldn't help but say a few more words, "What am I talking about selling? This house is so nice to live in. Why do you have to live in a new house? Our house is also quite new."
Hearing this, Qin Xiang glanced at the compound. This dormitory is indeed a bit old, and the building is a bit shabby.
Qin Xiang had never been here in his previous life, but he had seen it on the news. Because there are elementary schools, junior high schools and high schools around this area, this area was later planned to be a library, and the residents of this area benefited from the demolition.
If they hadn't come, Qin Xiang really wouldn't have remembered this.
Qin Xiang was already preparing to persuade Qin Juan to buy this house.
But Qin Juan had already inquired about other houses.
The old lady shook her head, "I've been in this compound every day, but I haven't heard of anyone selling a house. Although new houses are good, we can't afford them. Most of them are bought by young people because they can't live in them. That's why there are more elderly people in this compound now. I haven't heard of anyone selling a house."
Qin Juan felt a little regretful when she heard this. Qin Xiang stood outside and took a look at Director Qi's house, but unfortunately she couldn't see anything from the outside.
The old lady had a good impression of them, so she whispered to them, "Director Qi's family is in a hurry to sell the house to make money. I guess you can still get a lower price if you negotiate. The house is really nice, and the things inside are well kept. I heard that most of his furniture is no longer needed and will be replaced with new ones. You can save a lot just by living here."
Qin Xiang's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she looked at Qin Juan, "Sister, I think it's good."
Qin Juan sighed. It's good, but the price is not cheap even if they negotiate.
After leaving the compound, they looked around the school again and found a tube building a little further away. Unfortunately, the building looked like it was about to collapse, and it cost more than 500 yuan, but the area was only a dozen square meters.
Qin Juan was originally tempted, but when she went downstairs, she met a man staring at her, which scared her. After that, she said she didn't want to go there anymore.
Qin Xiang didn't pay attention to this and thought Qin Juan also felt that the building was unsafe. "I think the beer factory dormitory is the most suitable. The ladies there look kind, and there are many elderly people inside, so there are probably few troublemakers. It's also close to the school. I calculated that it's only a few minutes' walk."
Qin Juan was silent all the way. After Qin Xiang finished speaking, Qin Juan asked Nian Nian, "Does Nian Nian like it there?"
Nian Nian tilted her head and thought for a while, "I like it. The grandma just praised Nian Nian as a good child."
Qin Juan was stunned. She really didn't pay attention to this. This made Qin Juan feel warm in her heart. She touched Nian Nian's head and said, "Okay, Mom will buy a house there and we'll settle down there."